The Olivia ChroniclesA Tale of the First Two Years

Jessie Foley

Day of our Daughter’s Birth4/25/2014

The newest love of my life was born today, Olivia Rose Barton. Her middle name is as beautiful as she is. Much like the roses of my garden, my precious girl will be raised tenderly and with lots of love.

We decided to have a natural birth at a birthing center, due to my aversion of the epidural needles, and who doesn’t want to feel that pain?

4/25/2014

Olivia was a perfect shade of pink when she was handed to me. At 21.5 inches and 6 pounds, 14 ounces she was an average baby girl, according to the hospital nurses. She scored a seven on the Apgar scale right after birth. She even has webbed toes like I do.

Olivia at Three Months

Olivia is starting to babble. She is turning into a babbling fool. She still spends most of her time asleep with 2-3 hour periods of being awake. She is not yet sleeping through the night. Olivia coos at the sight of me. She is also trying to roll over, although unsuccessfully. Perhaps within the next couple months it will occur.

Olivia at Four Months

In order to give our child the best start we are introducing her to all genres of music and stimuli in order to stimulate synaptogenesis and plasticity. We are contemplating teaching her Japanese as well.

She also enjoys spending time on her tummy, not yet ready to crawl.

Olivia at Five Months

This journal is a soothing and wonderful way to document the development of my daughter.

Peek-a-boo is wonderful way for me to interact with Olivia, and for her to discover that just because something is hidden does not mean it is gone forever (she isn’t there yet, but soon!) She is a drooling machine (right on schedule for many babies: what a relief), I swear she has to change clothing several times a day. At least she loves bath time!

Olivia at Six MonthsWe have started to introduce

solid food supplement to our breast feedings. Olivia does not like pears. Perhaps it is a texture issue?

Olivia can roll over! 10/29/2014

With the aid of her boppy, she is able to sit and hold her head for a short time. It is still a little floppy.

Meanwhile, I am a bit concerned for her weight gain. Olivia is not progressing quite as much as the doctor would like (6-month check up yesterday) at 10 pounds. Hopefully adding solid foods will help. Otherwise she is a happy, healthy six month old.

Olivia at Six Months

Two short weeks after turning six months, my silly little girl is scooting all over the floor, not yet wanting to crawl. I have heard from other mothers that some babies don’t officially crawl very much, instead scooting or army crawling instead.

She is, however, continuing to pull herself up onto any and all surfaces she can reach.

Walking will be soon to follow.

Olivia at Seven Months

12/5/2014 Olivia has taken her first steps. This scares me greatly as it is so strange to see such a small creature wobbling around. Developmentally she is following in her father’s footsteps (he was walking at seven months!) Her startle reflex is all but gone. It is still amusing to watch her fan her toes (minus the webbed ones) when the sole of her foot is stroked.

Olivia at Seven Months

Olivia at Eight Months

Olivia loves her toys. She has figured out that she can hold two objects at a time. Then when she comes across a better toy, she drops the first toy, transfers the second one and picks up the new one. I am so proud.

It feels as though I just brought her home from the hospital. Time is flying fast. That first tooth finally decided to make its debut.

Olivia at Nine MonthsMy short excursions outside of the home are not

complete without my little bug waving bye-bye to daddy... with a little prompting. Her vocabulary is expanding and dada and mama are no longer the star words. She can grasp things with her hands and doesn’t always do a raking motion to pick up items. She loves her shapes cube. If a star were going to fit in the square hole, she would have it down!

Olivia at Ten MonthsOlivia loves to grunt for any

object that she is unable to reach. Usually it is something familiar and easy to get, such as her toys that float away during bath time or snacks just out of her reach.

She also loves to imitate anything someone else is doing. Blowing raspberry noises is one of her particular favorites. Patty Cake is another favorite, and she loves to take other’s hands and force them to clap.

Olivia Humor

My First Birthday

With only three teeth, it is party time. Olivia is experimenting with the best place to put her sippy cup; sometimes she even hides it at the bottom of the ball pit toy and quickly recovers it later.

She is showing some preference for the left hand, and the cake went all over her face. She can’t quite navigate the complexity of moving food to her mouth.

Olivia at Eighteen MonthsThose blocks I bought her came in handy! She is

my little architect, stacking in towers of two. Mostly, she just wants to put all of the blocks in the bucket and dump them back out. Olivia has become quite the chatty Cathy. Uncle Ryan has taught her to put her hands on her hips and say “no-no” in quite a sassy way. She knows exactly when to say it too.

My Second Birthday

Olivia is finally Two! She loves her new baby doll

and tried to feed it cake. We also decided to get her a

bouncy red kick ball and although it does not go far she has already taken to kicking it and throwing it, even inside! Her fine motor skills are improving greatly, and on time.

My Second Birthday

Olivia has seemed to out grow some clumsiness that her parents still have. I hope that means that her vision is now fully developed!